Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food

30 June 2010

8 Funny Posts 4 A Grin From Dennys Blogs - 30 June 2010

*** When times are tough what do you do? Laughter is the best stress reliever! Here are 8 posts from this week's posts at Denny's blogs for you to enjoy.



Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr


From Denny: Between Colbert and Stewart, well, let's just say they have BP's shenanigans covered. Nothing gets past them!

In my ongoing effort to provide stress relief when the national conversation is so depressing - because of the BP Gulf Coast oil spill, a fragile economy and politicians who continually refuse to do right by the American people - we all need to keep laughing our way through these times until they get better. Trust that times will get better and they will. Until then, while we are in transition, we must develop coping skills for managing daily stress like making sure we are laughing often.

This is one of those times when it is true that "the pen is mightier than the sword" for the right kind of writing can bring relief to thousands in one moment over the internet. Pretty cool when you think about it. How many people can accomplish so much out of thin air? :)


Funny Smile Quotes - Cheeky Quote Day - 30 June 2010

Roundup of Late Night Funnies: BP Oil Spill, McChrystal Firing - 28 June 2010

Funny Video: Colbert Says McChrystal Had To Have Been High

Funny Video: Stewart Nails Republicans As Flip-Floppers On BP Escrow Fund

Funny Video: Colbert Lampoons Barton's BP Apology

Funny Video: Stewart Lampoons McChrystal's Balls For An Honorable Discharge

5 Funny Shorts: What Kids Think About Love and Life

Funny Video: Surfing Group Known as The Radical Rodents


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

29 June 2010

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blueberry Shortcakes

*** Patriotic AND tasty fresh berry shortcake dessert good any time in the summer heat!




From Denny: What a beautiful dessert! It's tasty, bursting with fresh berries and so easy to make. Shortcake is just a huge sweetened biscuit. Make sure to read through to the end of the recipe before you begin making this dessert as it will give you a great tip for making the perfect shortcake biscuit.

Shortcake is easy to portion for single servings so you can give your guests the amounts of whipped cream or berries they prefer. These shortcakes are light and fluffy and sure to be a bit hit with family and friends. Fresh berries, whipped cream and that perfect bite of cake will explode a fireworks of taste in your mouth! :)

Have a great Fourth of July weekend!






Red, White and Blueberry Shortcakes


From: Driscoll’s

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tbl. grated lemon zest
2 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
6 tbls. cold butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup buttermilk
4 tsps. coarse sugar crystals
1 (16-oz.) pkg. strawberries, hulled, sliced
1/2 cup powdered sugar, divided
1 tbl. lemon juice
1 cup cold whipping cream
1 (6-oz.) pkg. blackberries
1 (6-oz.) pkg. blueberries
1 (6-oz.) pkg. raspberries


Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, lemon zest, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl.

2. Cut in butter, using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Stir in buttermilk just until dry ingredients are moistened.

4. Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead gently 4 times. Pat or roll dough on lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness.

5. Cut out 8 stars, using a 3-inch floured star cookie cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Brush tops with water and sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoon sugar crystals.

6. Bake 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

To make strawberry sauce: In a blender or food processor, puree 1 cup strawberries, 1/4 cup powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.

To make whipped cream: Beat with an electric mixer whipping cream and remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar until thickened and soft peaks form.

To assemble: Toss remaining sliced strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries until blended in a large bowl. Using a serrated knife, cut shortcakes in half horizontally. Place the bottom of each shortcake on each of 8 dessert plates.

Drizzle each shortcake with 1 tablespoon strawberry sauce. Top each with a dollop of whipped cream and about 1/2 cup berries. Place top of shortcake over berries. Serve with remaining strawberry sauce.


Nutritional analysis per serving: 408 calories, 20.3 grams fat, 64.82 milligrams cholesterol, 601.12 milligrams sodium and 3.56 grams fiber.

To lighten: Instead of using whipped cream, dollop with frozen thawed fat-free prepared whipped topping.

Helpful tip: Cutting cold butter into the flour makes little crumbs of fat that produce light, flaky shortcakes. A light stirring and kneading of the dough makes the flakiest shortcakes.


*** Check out more recipe posts: Recipes: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday

*** For more Fourth of July posts see also:

63 Quotes About Freedom and Liberty: Happy Birthday, America!

How Do We Live Freedom and Liberty? Libations Friday - 2 July 2010

Fourth of July When Life is Simple poem - Libations Friday 25 June 2010

Dennys Photo Gallery: Fourth of July Watermelon

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blue Independence Day Cake



*** Photo from Driscoll


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

28 June 2010

Muffin Monday: Sour Cream Walnut Cinnamon Muffins

*** Enjoy these easy to make brown sugar streusel-topped muffins with your coffee day or night!





From Denny: As a blogger I've started up this Muffin Monday recipe segment to help local economies all across the nation. How? By promoting the small businesses of bed and breakfast inns in America and Canada. Think about it. The next time you travel for business or pleasure be sure to book a bed and breakfast instead of a Big Business hotel chain. The prices are comparable and sometimes less. No one is paying me to write these posts - not do I own any interest in a "b and b" but hey, if you want to step up and donate feel free! :)

Seriously though, I just thought what a great idea if I could promote small businesses over Big Business. With small businesses the jobs stay here in our country instead of getting shipped overseas for cheaper labor costs and bigger profit. Let's support our local small businesses. By doing so we are supporting the 80 percent that drives our economy. Did you realize that most of the people in America work for small business? Big Business has driven so many smaller businesses out of business like small pharmacies, grocery and hardware stores.

It's been an enjoyable romp through the fields of the internet to locate these muffin recipes. Just when I found one bed and breakfast to be an interesting surprise then another one is discovered to be just as unique. Today's bed and breakfast inn promotes a special package rarely found at a hotel: a murder mystery package deal where you can partake in a weekend of amateur sleuthing fun. How unique is that?





From the website: We are an old-fashioned Bed & Breakfast promoting hospitality as our specialty. Located on a barrier island 8 miles long and approximately 1 mile wide where the sea air and ocean sounds are prevalent.

Designated by the Historic Commission as an Ocean City seashore cottage, our B&B has five Victorian rooms with the modern convenience of queen size beds, one with twin beds, and air conditioners in all guest rooms. Each bed chamber is uniquely decorated and named for a special butterfly. Quilts adorn the bedsteads while lace curtain sway with the breeze at the windows. The queen size beds offer special pampering but the twin beds offer comfort for friends who travel together. Our guests enjoy a continental breakfast buffet as one highlight of their stay.

The accommodations include a large front porch protected by striped awnings where our guests may relax after a full day... on the beach, walking our 2 1/2 mile boardwalk, investigating our quaint Asbury Avenue stores, or researching antiques along the Route 9 corridor to Cape May. Ocean City is located at the top of Cape May County where the Olympics of Birding occur each spring.


Sour Cream Coffee Muffins

From: Butterfly Breeze Bed & Breakfast

Butterfly Breeze Bed & Breakfast
637 Wesley Avenue
Ocean City, New Jersey 08226

email: butterflybreezebb.comcast.net

Margaret Thern, Innkeeper: Indulge in the B&B Experience at our quaint seashore lodging with Old World charm and warm friendly hospitality


Sour Cream Coffee Muffins

Makes: 12 servings

Ingredients:

Filling:

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Mix together.

Muffins:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt


Directions: Mix butter, sugar and eggs. Add sour cream and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Spoon 1 Tbsp of mix into prepared muffin pan. Top with 1 tsp filling and then 1 Tbsp batter. Sprinkle remaining filling on top of each muffin. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes. Remove from pan and cool.



*** More Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday Recipes:

American Revolt: How You Can Break Big Business, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Oil, Big Lobbyists

*** Check out more recipe posts: Recipes: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday

Muffin Monday: Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins

Muffin Monday: Egg, Ricotta Cheese, Sun-Dried Tomato Breakfast Muffins

Muffin Monday: Pina Colada Muffins

Muffin Monday: Polynesian Bread or Muffins, Gluten Free Pineapple Muffin

Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table

Muffin Monday: Banana Praline Muffins, White Chocolate Banana Bread



*** Photo of sour cream streusel muffins by Natalie R. @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

27 June 2010

Posts Roundup of Dennys 14 Blogs - 27 June 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science and health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.




Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr





The Social Poets:


Dark Humor: BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 26 June 2010

Fourth of July When Life is Simple poem - Libations Friday 25 June 2010

Pentagon Junkyard Dogs Bow to Obama Pressure

Funny Lawyer Quotes and Jokes - Cheeky Quote Day 23 June 2010

Gen. McChrystal Out For Crudely Dissing The President

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 21 June 2010

Funny Video: Colberts The Word, Stay the Course

Funny Video: Colberts Simplified Version of Obama's BP Oil Spill Speech

Funny Video: Colbert Examines America's Strained Relationship With England

Funny Video: Stewarts Take On America's Oil Dependence

Funny Video: Stewart Calls Joe Barton A 'Disdainful A--hole'

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 20 June 2010




Dennys Global Politics:


American and World Politics Cartoons - 26 June 2010

Unemployed Americans Screwed by the Republicans Again - News Headlines 24 June 2010

McChrystal as Dems Political Disaster - News Headlines - 22 June 2010





The Healing Waters:


Living Art Exhibit: Public Play at NY Times Square Pianos

Exploding Number of Young Widows in the World

Good News: Kids Sell Lemon Aid 4 Pelicans Hurt in the Gulf





Poems From A Spiritual Heart:


An Audience of One

10 Funny Posts For a Laugh - 23 June 2010

Life is About Everything

Stepping Through Life

Hope Transforms

Jazz Music




The Soul Calendar:


Big Oil Nixs Competing Aviation BioFuel: NASAs Project OMEGA




Romancing The Chocolate:


Cake Tuesday: Coffee Toffee Fudge Cake, Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Muffin Monday: Pina Colada Muffins




Unusual 2 Tasty:


Muffin Monday: Polynesian Bread or Muffins, Gluten Free Pineapple Muffin

Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table




Comfort Food From Louisiana:


Cake Tuesday: Fresh Peach Coffee Cake

Muffin Monday: Banana Praline Muffins, White Chocolate Banana Bread




Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Funny Legal News Story: The Case of a Contraceptives Misstaken Use

Funny Cartoon: What to Wear For Employee Review




Dennys Funny Quotes:


Funny General McChrystal Cartoons - 26 June 2010

10 Funny Signs and 10 Funny Short Jokes




Visual Insights:


Dennys Photo Gallery: Fourth of July Watermelon




*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

26 June 2010

Posts For This Weeks Cartoons, Funny World Soccer Cartoons - 26 June 2010

*** Check out the fun world soccer cartoons and click on more links to funny cartoon posts for this week!





From Denny: Come check out the best of this week's political cartoons, lampooning politicians, Life and sports. Instead of paging through 50 websites pages to look at one cartoon at a time, I've embedded a dozen or more per post to enjoy easily. Can you tell I find it annoying to load page after page just to see all the latest cartoons? :)

These were only a few world soccer cup cartoons available for embedding. To see more just click on the link under the cartoons to take you to the cartoonists' sites. It seems like every night on the TV news we would hear those vuvuzela horns making their joyful noise while they blew out everyone's eardrums. Cartoonists had a lot of fun with that cultural icon.

Congrats go the USA soccer team as they made us proud. It was an amazing run with upset after upset. We got some bad referee calls when it was obvious the gambling syndicate phoned in how they wanted the game to be called. America's team still went forward to win after win. This week it was Ghana's turn to win against America and knock us out of the race for the world cup.

America's team went into this competition with little hope and fewer expectations. As far as Americans are concerned our team was a Cinderella team. They succeeded in winning our hearts and ignited a huge interest in this country for the game of soccer. From my corner of the world, I'd say your game was well played, guys!


*** See Also more cartoons of the day: Dark Humor: BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 26 June 2010

*** See Also more cartoons of the day: Funny General McChrystal Cartoons - 26 June 2010

*** See Also more cartoons of the day: American and World Politics Cartoons - 26 June 2010



























*** Photo by Tansan @ flickr

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous
Obnoxious And Odd

23 June 2010

10 Funny Posts For a Laugh - 23 June 2010

*** Links to funny posts from several of Dennys blogs this week!





From Denny: I just love the enthusiasm of this funny dog running full tilt, tongue flailing out and slapping his face. He is undeterred and happy anyway. If only we humans could live in the moment like this dog. Well, not to worry, I've found some funny things on the web this week and posted them: jokes, funny quotes, funny photos and funny videos. Knock yourselves out. And, hey, make sure to send me photos of you laughing - and having a good time falling off your chair. :)


Funny Lawyer Quotes and Jokes - Cheeky Quote Day 23 June 2010

Funny Legal News Story: The Case of a Contraceptives Misstaken Use

10 Funny Signs and 10 Funny Short Jokes

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 21 June 2010

Funny Video: Colberts The Word, Stay the Course

Funny Video: Colberts Simplified Version of Obama's BP Oil Spill Speech

Funny Video: Colbert Examines America's Strained Relationship With England

Funny Video: Stewarts Take On America's Oil Dependence

Funny Cartoon: What to Wear For Employee Review

Funny Video: Stewart Calls Joe Barton A 'Disdainful A--hole'



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

22 June 2010

Cake Tuesday: Fresh Peach Coffee Cake

*** This summer enjoy fresh Georgia peaches in your morning coffee cake!





Beautiful Georgia peach by totalAldo @ flickr


From Denny: One of my fondest memories of living in Atlanta, Georgia, was when the Georgia peaches came into season. There was a frenzy across the city to gather up all the ripest peaches for steaming hot peach cobbler smothered with a side of perfect vanilla ice cream and then bake peach coffee cakes redolent with fragrant cinnamon to pair with that early morning cup of coffee for the next day. Then we would turn to making peach pies, unbaked and thrown into the freezer for those days in the fall when we were craving that fresh peach taste.

And, after we had our fill of the freshest juiciest ripe peaches - for about a week as we stuffed ourselves silly - we turned to canning them, yes, city girls canning peaches like we lived on a farm. A Georgia peach is not to be missed. Neither are the Vidalia onions when they come into season in June, though Texas is giving them a good run for their money on delivering sweet white mild onions to the market.

This recipe for this peach coffee cake comes from a bed and breakfast inn located in British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. What's been fun about researching recipes from bed and breakfasts across America and Canada is to go to their websites and see what they offer the weary traveler. What I found unique about this inn is that there is a vineyard as part of the view!



A View to Remember B&B
1090 Trevor Drive
Kelowna, BC V1Z2J8

Email: info@KelownaBandB.com




View of the vineyards from the b and b



From A View to Remember: Discover the natural beauty of the Okanagan Valley - spectacular vistas overlooking 82 miles of Lake Okanagan with over 2000 hours of sunshine.

Relax in one of our spacious elegant bed and breakfast suites with ensuite bathrooms and all the comforts of home.

Enjoy the view - relax in the tranquil and beautiful English gardens, sit in the gazebo and listen to the birds, enjoy the sun of the patio or enjoy the panoramic view up on our private deck.

Begin your day with a delicious home made gourmet breakfast featuring our own signature egg dishes, our famous local Okanagan fruit and our special blend of gourmet coffee.

Experience the Okanagan vineyards, just minutes away from our Kelowna bed and breakfast. The wine and the creative cuisine of the world class wineries in this beautiful Okanagan Valley are waiting for you. Our mission is our committment to provide you with quality Bed and Breakfast accommodations with outstanding hospitality and service.



Fresh Peach Coffee Cake


Ingredients:

1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 c buttermilk
4 peaches peeled and diced
1 tsp cinnamon
cinnamon sugar mix for topping

Directions:

Cream butter with brown sugar add slightly beaten egg. Add flour and baking soda alternately with buttermilk beating smooth after each addition. Gently blend in peaches. Pour batter into 9-inch x 13-inch dish, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mix.
Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.



*** See Also: Cake Tuesday: Coffee Toffee Fudge Cake, Tunnel of Fudge Cake

*** Check out more recipe posts: Recipes: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

21 June 2010

Muffin Monday: Banana Praline Muffins, White Chocolate Banana Bread

*** Enjoy two easy recipes for your favorite banana muffin.




Another version of a banana nut muffin by erin.kkr @ flickr


From Denny: In my search to see what's baking at the bed and breakfast inns across America and Canada I found this sweet comfort food for breakfast. This recipe comes from a rustic peaceful Texas inn.

While I live next door in Louisiana where we grow the most awesome pecans, they grow them in Texas too. Both states love the praline for everything from muffins to cakes to bread pudding and sweet potato casserole toppings.

Searching for non-copyrighted photos, this photographer posted this little darling banana bread recipe with the sweet goodness of added white chocolate chips. You can try other variations besides chocolate chips if you like. Tips for baking well and suggestions of ingredients follows the recipe.


Banana Praline Muffins


From: Las Brisas Farm
Fayetteville, Texas




From Las Brisas Farm: Tired of work and stresses of the city? Want to get away and just relax? If so, Las Brisas Farm offers a much needed respite. Las Brisas Farm is located in the heart of Czech-German country and is one mile south from historic Fayetteville where shops and dining reflect yesterday's past. The cottages are set on forty rolling acres where one can appreciate spectacular sunrises and sunsets, and star gaze clear, vast skies. One guest described the setting as eye candy for the soul!


Banana Praline Muffins


Yield: 12 muffins


Ingredients:

3 bananas, ripe - mashed
1 egg
1/2 C. sugar
1/4 C. oil
1 1/4 C. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt

Praline:

3 T. brown sugar
1 T. sour cream
1/2 C. chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix brown sugar and sour cream, add pecans.

Mash bananas; add egg, sugar and oil. Beat well. Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix until just moistened.

Grease muffin tins, and put equal amount of batter in each. Top each with equal amount of praline mix in center of muffin.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.






White Chocolate Banana Bread by Divine Domesticity @ flickr



White Chocolate Banana Bread

Makes: one loaf

Ingredients:

3 very ripe bananas
2 tbsp soft butter
1 cup sugar
1 + 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup white chocolate chips and /or coarsely chopped nuts – pecans or walnuts work well (optional)

Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 375°/190°C

2.Mash bananas in a bowl and add rest of the ingredients. Stir just until blended. It seems as if there is not enough liquid but don’t be fooled. The very ripe bananas add all the moisture needed. Mixing the ingredients together with a fork for 2-3 minutes is all you need to create the batter.

3.Pour into greased 9"x5" loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out dry (unless of course you hit a chocolate chip).

4.Cool for 10 minutes on a cake rack before removing from pan.

5.To bake muffins, prepare the batter as above and bake for 20-25 minutes at 400°F/200°C, in center of oven


Tips & Variations

* This is a great breakfast or mid day snack.
* Instead of chocolate chips (or with them, if you prefer) try:
chopped walnuts or pecans
dried cranberries or cherries
* Just make sure these ingredients add up to one cup. More than that will lose the bread/cake texture.


*** Check out how Muffin Monday started: American Revolt: How You Can Break Big Business, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Oil, Big Lobbyists

*** Check out more recipe posts: Recipes: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

20 June 2010

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 20 June 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science and health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.




Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr




The Social Poets:


Dark Humor: BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 19 June 2010

Stepping Through Life poem - Libations Friday 18 June 2010

BP Gets Their Moneys Worth From Apologetic GOP Texan Barton

Funny Quotes From Big Oil and BP Congressional Hearings - Cheeky Quote Day 16 June 2010

Foreclosure Violated Military Act: Yet Another Reason Not to Live in Texas

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 14 June 2010

Funny Video: Obama Embarks on AssQuest 2010

Funny Colbert Video: BP CEO Tony Hayward Is an Evil Box of Priggish Entitled Baking Soda

Funny Colbert Video: BP Perplexed Stock Value Sinks

Funny Video: Colbert Doles Out Advice For Helen Thomas






Dennys Global Politics:


BP Problems: Political Cartoons 19 June 2010

Kevin Costner Blasts Big Oil, GOP Apologizes to BP - News Headlines 17 June 2010

Obamas Oval Office Speech, CEO Weigh in on Obama, Reality of BPs $20 Billion Escrow - News Headlines 16 June 2010

BP On Hook for $75 Billion in Claims, 1-Man Mission American Ninja Faulkner Hunts bin Laden, News Headlines 15 June 2010

BP Nightmare Well, Congress Ready to Nail BP, Kennedy FBI Docs, Obama Gets Oil Spill Help - News Headlines 14 June 2010






Beautiful Illustrated Quotations:


How Does Tenacity Figure in Your Life?

Destress: 3 Great Encouragement Quotes

Have You Ever Thought About The Process of Success?

Hope Transforms Our Lives in Tough Times






Romancing The Chocolate:


5 Tasty Sweet as Candy Chess Pie Recipes

8 Funny Posts to Enjoy

Muffin Monday: 3 Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipes



Comfort Food From Louisiana:


7 Simple Ingredients Brisket and Southern Corn Pudding

Muffin Monday: Mushroom Dill Muffins From Louisiana Mushroom Farm




Unusual 2 Tasty:


Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table




Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Funny Video: Colberts Sound Advice on How to Get a Job

Murphys 15 Laws About Sex





Dennys Funny Quotes:


Oops and Hunh?! Cartoons 19 June 2010

Funny Family Quotes

Joke: When A Bunch of Nationalities Are Stranded on an Island





Visual Insights:

BP Oil Slicked Animals: Outrage Cartoons - 19 June 2010





Poems From A Spiritual Heart:


Hope Transforms

Jazz Music




*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

16 June 2010

8 Funny Posts to Enjoy

*** Your medicine today is to laugh!




From Denny: The world is full of funny, and, in these trying political and economic times, we all need to laugh as much as possible! These are some of the posts I've put up this week on The Social Poets and Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd blogs.


Funny Quotes From Big Oil and BP Congressional Hearings - Cheeky Quote Day 16 June 2010

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 14 June 2010

Funny Video: Obama Embarks on AssQuest 2010

Funny Colbert Video: BP CEO Tony Hayward Is an Evil Box of Priggish Entitled Baking Soda




Funny Colbert Video: BP Perplexed Stock Value Sinks

Funny Video: Colbert Doles Out Advice For Helen Thomas

Funny Video: Colberts Sound Advice on How to Get a Job

Murphys 15 Laws About Sex


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

15 June 2010

7 Simple Ingredients Brisket and Southern Corn Pudding

*** Simple easy brisket recipe that is a real crowd pleaser.





From Denny: Brisket is low in fat, inexpensive to make and a great idea of how to feed a large crowd and keep them happy. Brisket takes to a wide variety of seasonings. You can employ the bold flavors of the Southwest using hot chilies and cumin or you can go more Florida style with citrus and herb combinations. Some people prefer their brisket very simple with flavorful barbecue sauce added when serving.

Remember to marinate the meat to let those seasoning flavors have time to penetrate the meat to give a deeper and fuller flavor. It also helps to break down the meat's natural toughness and makes it more tender in the finished product.

This simple seven ingredient brisket recipe comes from our local newspaper's food editor. She has a knack for developing flavorful recipes using few ingredients and the recipes are simple and easy to do.

Feel free to adjust these seasonings to your personal taste. At our house we like a lot more garlic powder than this recipe provides yet we use low sodium soy sauce whenever regular high salt soy sauce is required. We also use dark brown sugar whenever light brown sugar is one of the ingredients. Onion powder in place of onion salt.

It's up to you how strong a salt flavor you like. I find many Louisiana recipes are far too high in salt and I always modify them to healthier levels. Why wait until you develop a health problem when you can head it off by healthier cooking? Cutting back on salt is really not missed when you step up the other seasonings like garlic and cumin, all strong flavors. Even a blend of your favorite peppercorns adds balance and intrigue to a dish.

Why do all the fuss of boiled corn on the cob this summer when you can do something more flavorful and downright easy? Try out a corn pudding recipe. You can use the traditional canned cream-style corn or try out the frozen version of cream-style corn. The frozen version retains more of the corn's nutrients and fresher flavor.

All this recipe is about is creating a custard to "enrobe" the corn using flour, sugar, eggs and milk. Freshly ground nutmeg is always a wonderful addition to milk products and is used in a light dusting on top of the pudding. There is just something about nutmeg that gives a dish this sense of intense freshness. Go lightly as a lot goes a long way with this strong spice.

When the corn pudding cooks you might notice some extra liquid that looks like it's seeping out or even separating from the custard. It's the corn giving off liquid and sugar so don't scoop it up and throw it out. As the corn pudding cools a bit the liquid volume will calm down and settle back into the dish. You might get some run over but it won't ruin the taste of the dish. This doesn't happen every time but occasionally as you never know the level of sugars and water content in the corn product you are using.

These two recipes are an easy simple weekend dinner or great for a large gathering. Just add a simple green salad and a store bought dessert like a pie, cake or cookies and ice cream to beat the heat!


Sweetened Brisket

From: Julie Kay, food editor @ 2theadvocate

Serves: 8 to 10

Ingredients:

1 (4-lb.) beef brisket
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar


Directions:

1. Sprinkle brisket with garlic powder, onion salt and black pepper.

2. Mix Worcestershire and soy sauces together with brown sugar. Pour mixture over brisket. Marinate brisket overnight in refrigerator.

3. Put brisket and marinade into slow cooker. Cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours.

4. Remove meat from cooker; slice and serve. Meat may also be shredded for po-boys.





Southern Corn Pudding aka "Cawn Puddin'"

From: Corinne Cook, food editor @ 2theadvocate

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients:

2 (14.75-oz.) cans cream-style corn or about 3-1/2 cups
1 tbl. sugar
2 tbls. flour
Salt and pepper to taste
4 eggs, well-beaten
2 tbls. butter, melted
2 cups milk
Sprinkle of nutmeg, if desired


Directions:

1. In medium bowl, combine corn, sugar, flour, and salt and pepper to taste.

2. In separate small bowl, combine beaten eggs, melted butter and milk. Stir with whisk until well-blended. Add the milk mixture to the corn mixture.

3. Spoon into 2-1/2-quart dish that has been lightly greased or sprayed with nonstick coating.

4. Very lightly sprinkle nutmeg over the top of the casserole.

5. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for about 50-60 minutes or until custard is set and top is lightly browned. If it looks like it is getting too brown, loosely cover the top with a piece of foil.



*** Photo by Girl Interrupted Eating @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

14 June 2010

Muffin Monday: Mushroom Dill Muffins From Louisiana Mushroom Farm

*** Check out a savory muffin using your favorite mushroom.





From Denny: Here in Louisiana most people never gave much thought to farming mushrooms. OK, I thought about it and people thought I was crazy. Well, turns out there are some other crazy people who thought it was a great idea too. After all, it doesn't take up a lot of room and it's a crop that grows in the dark. How cool is that? Yes, I also have a science blog. It really shows sometimes. :)

Well, Johnnie and Cheryl Santangelo of Independence, Louisiana, pressed ahead and now three years later they are the proud owners of the only mushroom farm in Louisiana. And do they have some yummy recipes too! After all, mushrooms are the ultimate brain food and what a delicious way to feed our brains.

"We started at zero," remembered Johnnie Santangelo. "Neither Cheryl nor I knew anything about mushrooms. Absolutely nothing! All we did know was that there was this old mushroom farm that has sat abandoned just down the road from our home. Years ago, it had been land my dad had leased for cattle. We were looking for investment property and this looked like it."

Johnnie and Cheryl both teach at Loranger High School. He is an agriculture teacher and she is the assistant principal.

"Yeah, like weeds and trees and vines that we had to hack away with machetes just to be able to open the doors of the buildings," said Cheryl. "Once inside, we found the only thing growing there were water moccasin snakes. I was terrified and not about to go in there.

Explaining the history of the previous owners of this mushroom farm, "The place had been run as a mushroom farm by a man from Pennsylvania as an investment for another man in New Orleans. At some point, the two men had a disagreement and the man who was running the farm, just walked away from it and left everything. The people who were left behind didn’t know anything about mushrooms so the place was just locked up. Just as it was.

"My husband, my son Johnnie III and some others went in and cleaned out the buildings. We found everything just as it had been left 18 years earlier. I even found the first dollar that the original owner had earned and left behind. He just walked away from it. I framed that dollar bill along with the first dollar we made. To say the place we found was a mess would be a gross understatement.

"To be honest, I don’t think anybody even knew those buildings were there. But once all was said and done, we knew that we were going to grow mushrooms … and that we would be successful."

These educators and their son grow three types of mushrooms from two species: the grocery store familiar white button and the portabella. When the portabella are picked at an early stage and small they are labeled as creminis. If you allow the portabellas to grow and mature they are the coffee brown large umbrellas that almost have the texture of steak and will win over most meat eaters to veggies.

The production level these days for this farm is 18,000–23,000 pounds of mushrooms. That many pounds of mushrooms are produced in each room and each week all year long. Their profit line went from zero to $200,000 and growing in only three years. Sounds like my crazy idea was not so crazy after all. :) Congrats to Johnnie and Cheryl Santangelo.


Red Hill Mushroom Farm
51237 Mushroom Lane
Independence, LA 70443

Business Phone: (985) 878-0172
Fax: (985) 878-0172



Mushroom Dill Muffins


From: Johnnie and Cheryl Santangelo of Independence, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, owners of Red Hill Mushroom Farm


Tender, earthy mushroom muffins enhanced with dill. Serve along side soup. Use a mini-muffin pan for perfect little “mushrooms.”

Ingredients:

2 tsp. butter (or margarine)
2 cups chopped fresh white mushrooms
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp. Baking powder
¾ tsp. dill weed
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. pepper
2 large eggs
10 oz. can of condensed cream of mushroom soup or your fresh mushroom soup
¼ cup melted butter (or hard margarine)
¼ cup milk
2 tsp. lemon juice

Directions:

Melt first portion of butter in large frying pan on medium-high. Add mushrooms. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are browned and liquid is evaporated. Let cool.

Measure next 5 ingredients into large bowl. Stir. Make a well in center.

Beat remaining 5 ingredients with whisk in medium bowl. Add to well. Add mushrooms. Stir until just moistened. Fill greased mini-muffin pan(s) 3/4 full. Bake in 375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean. Let stand in pan for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool. Makes approximately 4 dozen mini-muffins or 12 large muffins.


*** Check out how Muffin Monday started: American Revolt: How You Can Break Big Business, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Oil, Big Lobbyists

*** Check out more recipe posts: Recipes: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday


*** Mushroom on steroids by miss karen @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

13 June 2010

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 13 June 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science and health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.




Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr




The Social Poets:



Louisiana to NY Mayor Bloomberg: Shut the F Up! - BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 12 June 2010

Hope Transforms poem - Libations Friday 11 June 2010 - A poem about how Hope works to transform our lives.

BP Promotes Philosophy: The Minimum Acceptable

Roundup of Late Night Comedy - 7 June 2010

Funny Videos: Stewart and Colbert Lampoon Reporter Helen Thomas

Funny Video: Lampooning Racists Gone Wild Horrified Teaching Chinese Language

Funny Video: Jon Stewart Lampoons Glenn Beck About Exclusive Israeli Raid News



The Soul Calendar:


Effective Cheap Idea to Clean Up Oil Spill: Treated Cotton Fabric




Dennys Global Politics:


American and World Politics Cartoons - 12 June 2010

Speaker Pelosi, Residents Fire Upon BP - News Headlines 11 June 2010

Krewe of Dead Pelicans BP Protest Parade, Oil Spill Stories - News Headlines 8 June 2010



Beautiful Illustrated Quotations:


How Are Hopes, Dreams and Reality Related?

Where Does Hope Guide Us On Our Life Path?

Hope: Unborn Baby Grabs onto Doctors Hand in Surgery

Does Hope Touch Your Soul?




Poems From A Spiritual Heart:


Jazz Music - Get lost in the moment living a New Orleans night...

Angels Left Behind: Orphans of the World - Poem about remembering the children of the world need our help.

Water of Life - Have you ever wondered the messages Nature speaks to us every day, happening every minute all around us? Great Nature photos.

Peace Upon The Land - A Memorial Day poem to honor ourselves.




The Healing Waters:


Oldest Living Woman in World Now in Indonesia

12 Hidden Reasons 4 Fatigue and How to Fight Fatigue

Anti-Aging Summer Drinks From CBS and Health Magazine




Dennys Funny Quotes:


Ouch: Reporter Helen Thomas Career Ender Comments Cartoons

Funny Video: Upright Citizens Brigade Mocks BP Execs

Funny Video: Colbert Mocks Birthers Using Obama Rap Video Sighting

Funny Dance Video: Butt Face Slam From Brazil




Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Obamas Kick Ass Comments Cartoons

Funny Video: BP Creates Rich Fish in Gulf Oil Spill

Funny: Actresses Sandra Bullock, Scarlett Johannson Kiss at MTV Movie Awards - How a photo can look like more than it is.




Comfort Food From Louisiana:


New Orleans Food: G.Gs Stuffed Crab




Romancing The Chocolate:


Popular Kentucky Derby Recipes: Bourbon Ball French Toast, Kentucky Hot Brown



Visual Insights:

Dennys Photo Gallery: Wonderful Father Photos



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

08 June 2010

New Orleans Food: G.Gs Stuffed Crab

*** Check out a time honored favorite recipe in New Orleans!




Another version of stuffed crab since no photo was provided of the dish: A crab stuffed with attitude and reported to be delicious! - Thai Chili Crab Photo by Aerokev @ flickr in Australia


From Denny: People are always asking the food editors of their local Louisiana newspapers for this recipe. This one was given to the New Orleans Times-Picayune back in 1998. New Orleans native, Meryl Andry, said she based this recipe on her great-grandmother's technique. How's that for a time-honored tradition?

Andry tells us what we want to hear about convenience too: this dish freezes well. Instead of the bother of placing the stuffing into the crab shells she serves it mounded on lengthwise cut rectangles of French bread. Hint: To hold the stuffing well, tear out some of the inside of the bread slices to make a hollow.


G.G.'s Stuffed Crab


From: Meryl Andry

Makes: 6 to 8 servings



Ingredients:

1 24- by 3- by 2-inch loaf of day-old French bread

1 1/2 to 2 cups milk

2 sticks butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large yellow onion, finely chopped

4 green onions, finely chopped

8 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup minced fresh parsley

2 tablespoons dry white wine

1 pound lump crab meat, picked over

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning, to taste

Crystal hot sauce (or one to your personal taste)

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

1 to 2 cups Italian-style, very fine, dry bread crumbs

1 large lemon, sliced into 18 very thin rounds, seeded

Ground sweet paprika, for garnish



Directions:

Slice the bread in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out the inside bread, leaving a shell of crust about a quarter of an inch thick. Place scooped-out bread in a large mixing bowl and add enough milk to moisten all bread bits; set aside. Cut the shell of crust into 2 1/2-inch lengths to form 18 rectangles, each about 3 inches wide; place rectangles, crust down, on an ungreased baking sheet.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large heavy skillet, melt 1 stick butter with olive oil over medium-high heat. Add yellow and green onions, garlic and parsley, then wine. Saute until yellow onions are translucent, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium and mix in crab meat, basil and oregano, stirring gently to keep lumps of crab intact. Season to taste with salt, pepper, seasoning mix and hot sauce. Cook and stir 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir lemon juice into mixture. Drain bread-milk mixture in a strainer or colander and squeeze bread dry. Add this bread and Parmesan to the skillet, mixing well. Gradually add enough Italian-style bread crumbs to mixture to make it the consistency of somewhat sticky dough; this probably will require 1 to 2 cups of bread crumbs. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Mound crab mixture evenly over the bread rectangles, using all of the crab mixture.

Slice the remaining stick of butter into 18 pats. Top each rectangle with a butter pat, then a lemon round, then a light sprinkle of paprika. Bake until rectangles start to brown, about 20 minutes.



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

05 June 2010

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 5 June 2010

*** Check it out from the funny to the serious like lots of funny posts with funny ideos, BP oil spill news, political commentary, political cartoons, recipes, poetry, health news.




Photo of coffee from Brazil by Quoquo @ flickr



From Denny: This was a light week for writing as I spent so much time watching a lot of BP oil spill news from everywhere trying to catch details of what was filtered out of the mainstream copycat media. This is a shifting situation minute by minute as BP tries to twist the truth and manipulate the media to report their lies. It's like a giant shell game from a multinational corporation grifter.

Those of us living in Louisiana and others on the Gulf Coast are committed to holding our government AND most especially BP's mean little toes to the hot coals until they comply fully. The philosophy of "The Minimum Acceptable" from Big Business arrogance and cavalier handling of an environmental and economic disaster is unacceptable in America. If this was happening to the British shores I would be just as outraged and pushing back just as hard.




The Social Poets:


Cartoons: Obama vs. BPs Oil Spill - 5 June 2010

Water of Life poem - Libations Friday 4 June 2010

BP Phony Police: Threaten Reporters With Arrest If Report, Photo Dead Animals

BP Oil Spill News Updates - 2 June 2010

Funny Late Night Comedy Roundup - 31 May 2010

Funny Video: Colberts ThreatDown of Food Police, Jazz Robots, Pretty Girls

Funny Video: Colbert Mocks Surburban Backyard Clothesline Terrorist

Funny Video: Colbert Gives Domino Pizza Alpha Dog Award

Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 30 May 2010






Dennys Global Politics:


World Idiots: Israel Gaza Raid Mess, North Korea Cartoons - 5 June 2010

Why Not to Nuke the Oil Spill, Israels International Mess - News Headlines 2 June 2010








Dennys Funny Quotes:


Cartoons: Staycation, New Summer Trend 4 Middle Class - 5 June 2010

Help Create Funny Caption 4 Michelle Obama Photo at Comedy Central


Funny Video: Science-Gate by Cartoonist Mark Fiore

Funny Video: Colbert Instructs How to Ace Your ACTs





Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Tea Party Weird and Immigration Cartoons - 5 June 2010

Funny Video: Zeek the Dog Plays Piano and Sings





Dennys Blog Feeds:


Funny Fathers Day Cartoons - 5 June 2010




The Healing Waters:


Cartoons: Global Warming Al Gores Surpise Divorce - 5 June 2010

Michelle Obama Fighting Obesity: Chefs Moves to Schools Program

50 Simple Steps: Burn Some Excess Calories




Visual Insights:


Funny Summer Heatwave Cartoons - 5 June 2010

Just Plain Funny: Silly Animal Photos




Romancing The Chocolate:


Yummy Lemon Tea Bread From Southern Living


Unusual 2 Tasty:


New Popular Drink Trend: Sex and The City 2 Cocktails



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
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